Method and apparatus for MR-guided biopsy

Abstract

The subject invention pertains to a method and apparatus for MR-guided biopsy. The subject invention can be applied to, for example, prostate biopsy. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention can provide a mechanical tool for stabilizing the patient in prone position and to guide a biopsy needle into defined targeted lesions in the prostate gland. The patient can lay prone in the MRI. The subject apparatus can guide an MR-visible, sterile needle sleeve, which can have a hollow tube filled with contrast media, through the anus onto the inner wall of the colon. Due to the visibility of the contrast media in the sleeve, the apparatus can be guided to the exact position. The sleeve can incorporate a tube within the contrast media filled sleeve to insert the biopsy needle and to push this needle forward into the prostate. The subject apparatus can utilize various mechanical means to stereotactically move the needle or needle sleeve in various directions.

Description

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 357,205, filed Feb. 14, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, including any figures, tables, or drawings.[0002] The subject invention pertains to a method and apparatus for MR-guided biopsy. The subject invention can be applied to prostate biopsy. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention relates to a stereotactic positioning device for MR-guided interventions, such as biopsies of suspicious areas of the prostate gland. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a current radiological imaging modality to view soft tissue lesions of the human body. MR can be used to guide the subject positioning device to directly puncture lesions in the prostate and / or to biopsy these.BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION[0003] The subject invention pertains to a method and apparatus for MR-guided biopsy. The subject invention can be applied to, for example, prostate biopsy. In a specific e...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003] The subject invention pertains to a method and apparatus for MR-guided biopsy. The subject invention can be applied to, for example, prostate biopsy. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention can provide a mechanical tool for stabilizing the patient in prone position and to guide a biopsy needle into defined targeted lesions in the prostate gland. The patient can lay prone in the MRI. The subject apparatus can guide an MR-visible, sterile needle sleeve, which can have a hollow tube filled with contrast media, through the anus onto the inner wall of the colon. Due to the visibility of the contrast media in the sleeve, the apparatus can be guided to the exact position. The sleeve can incorporate a tube within the contrast media filled sleeve to insert the biopsy needle and to push this needle forward into the prostate. The subject apparatus can utilize various mechanical means to stereotactically move the needle or needle sleeve in various directions.

[0004] Prostate cancer is the most common cancer, excluding skin cancers, in American men. The American Cancer Society estimates that during 2002 about 189,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the United States. Accurate determination of the extent of local disease in the prostate is difficult. Current imaging techniques include, for example, transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), endorectal coil magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI). The reported accuracy of TRUS for determining if prostate cancer is confined within the capsule varies widely from 58% to 90%. However, preliminary data from recent studies of endorectal MRI show higher accuracy (75-90%) than TRUS, and better consistency.

Problems solved by technology

Accurate determination of the extent of local disease in the prostate is difficult.

Images